Air directing louver device



Aug. 22, 1961 A. D. GOETTL AIR DIRECTING LOUVER DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 195? W MIE L L\,. l

Rn mm E0 W6 I D. M a A D O A 4 U, I: L I o 3 AGENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 n MT N E E0 M6 D M A D A AGENT Aug. 22, 1961 A. D. GOETTL AIR DIRECTING LOUVER DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1957' 1961 v A. D. GOETTL 2,996,971

AIR DIRECTING LOUVER DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 195? 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ADAM D. GOETTL AGENT 1961 A. D. GOETTL 2,996,971

AIR DIRECTING LOUVER DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ADAM D. GOETTL AGENT United States PatehtG ware Filed Dec. 10, 1957, Ser. No. 701,757 8 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates to an air directing louver device and actuator therefor and more particularly to an air directing louver device having an actuator which is capable of moving all of the intersecting slats of the louver device by means of a common control member.

The present invention relates to improvements over an actuator for louver slats disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 666,528, filed June 19, 1957.

It is desirable that an actuator for intersecting louver slats be of simple construction and operable in connection with intersecting louver slats all of which are of similar construction.

It is also desirable that actuators for intersecting louver slats be located remotely from the intersecting portions of the slats whereby special construction of the slats or actuating mechanism is not required.

Further, it is desirable to provide very simple and durable mechanism for actuating intersecting louver slats by a comomn control member.

Additionally, there has been a need for an actuator which will pivotally adjust intersecting louver slats by means of a common control yet permit individual manual adjustment of each of the louver slats as desired; subsequent adjustment of the intersecting slats by the actuator member being capable of replacing all of the slats into positions having common angular relationships and parallel relation with each other at their adjacent sides.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air directing louver device and actuator therefor wherein intersecting louver slats are all adjustable about their pivotal axes by a common control which is located remotely of the intersecting portions of the slats.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air directing louver device and actuator therefor wherein intersecting louver slats are pivotally adjustable about their axes by a common control and wherein frictional clutch elements permit individual manual adjustment of various slats about their pivotal axes relative to the remaining slats and wherein subsequent actuation of the intersecting slats by control member returns all of the slats to an equal angular adjusted position wherein their adjacent sides are parallel with each other. Another object of the invention is to provide an air directing louver device and actuator therefor wherein a variety of clutch mechanisms may be used at the ends of the slats for cooperative relation with a common connecting means or linkage for operation of all of the slats in unison With each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel linkage and lever mechanism which actuates friction clutches on the ends of louver slats whereby a common control member in connection with the lever and linkage mechanism is located remotely from the intersecting portions of the slats and may be supported on a frame element adjacent to the corner of an intersecting louver slat assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air directing louverdevice and actuator therefor which is very simple and economical to produce in accordance with its utility and which is very durable and reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be 2,996,971 Patented Aug. 22, 1961 2 apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which: I

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an air directing louver device and actuator therefor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view thereof taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing portions broken away and in section to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a modification of structure disclosed therein.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of a clutch mechanism adapted for use in an air directing louver device and actuator thereof in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view thereof taken from the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of clutch mechanism usable in connection with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view taken from the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing portions broken away and in section to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of a further modification of clutch mechanism adapted for use in connection with the present invention and showing a portion broken away to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a still further modification of clutch mechanism usable in connection with the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view taken from the line 13-13 of FIG. 12 and showing a varying position of parts by broken lines.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings the air directing louver device and actuator of the present invention is provided with a frame 20 which is substantially box shaped in construction. This frame 20 is provided with side Walls 22 and 24 in which intersecting slats 26 and 28, respectively, are pivotally mounted. It will be noted that FIG. 1 discloses only a fragmentary portion of the over all air directing device assembly. However, the frame 20 is provided with four sides and the opposed sides 20 support the intersecting louver slats 26 while opposed sides 24 support the intersecting louver slats 28.

The frame 20 is provided with a surrounding flange 30 which is integral with the side walls 22 and 24 of the frame 20 as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing. The assembly of the frame 20 and intersecting louver slats 26 and 28 is similar in construction to that disclosed in a co-pending patent application of Adam D. Goettl, Serial No. 684,492.

With reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the slats 26 are provided with trunnions 32 which are fitted in slots 34 in the sides 22 of the frame 20 and with reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the slats 28 are provided with trunnions 36 which are fitted in slots 38.

Secured to the flange 30 of the frame 20 is a sheet metal flange member 40 having upstanding clip portions 42 which are provided with loops 44 at their extending ends. These loops 44 are disposed between the slots 38 and engage a resilient wire member 46 which is held in the clip portions 44 and bears upon the trunnions 36 of the slats 28. The slats 28 have notch apex portions 48 which engage notch apex portions 50 of the slats 26 thereby tending to force the slats 26 in a direction to cause engagement of the trunnions 32 in the ends of the slots 34. Thus, the Wires 46 supported by the clips 44 cause engagement of the notch apex portions of the slats 28 with the slats 26 and thereby hold all of the notch apex portions of the intersecting slats intimately engaged. It will be noted that the construction at the notch apex portions of the slats 26 and 28 is similar to that disclosed in ace-pending application of Adam D. Goettl, Serial No. 684,492.

Connected with one end of each of the slats 26 and 28 is a friction clutch mechanism and this mechanism is of a construction common to both the slats 26 and 28. Therefore the friction clutch mechanism disclosed in connection with the slats 28 as shown in FIG. 3 will be described for the purpose of defining the structure of the friction clutch in connection with both the slats 26 and 28.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings the trunnions of the slats 28 are disclosed as integral portions of the slats and projecting from the ends of the trunnions 36 are clutch head portions 52. These head portions are slightly larger than the trunnions 36 and are substantially frusto-conical in shape.

Arms 54 are provided with socket portions 56 fitted over the head portions 52. These arms 54 are made of resilient material and are spread slightly over the frustoconical configuration of the head portions 52 so that they may be forced upon the head portions 52 during assembly thereof relative to the trunnions 36. The arms 54 are each provided with an annular lip 58 which engages an annular shoulder 60 of each head portion in order to retain the arm 54 axially thereon. In as much as the arm 54 is made of resilient material it frictionally engages the head portion 52 and acts as a frictional slip clutch thereon. Each slat 28 at its head portion 52 can be moved rotationally about the axis of the trunnion 36 without pivoting the respective arm 54 by applying suflicient manual force on the slat 28 to overcome friction of the socket 56 on the head 52. This, however, requires force additional to that normally re quired to pivot the slat 28 and trunnions 36 in the slots 38 of the frame side members '24. It will be understood that the inner surfaces of the socket 56 of the arm 54 frictionally engage the frusto-conical surfaces of the head 52 which is integral with or fixed to the trunnions 36 carried by the respective slat 28. It will further be understood that the surfaces of the head 52 and socket 56 are annular so that these surfaces can slide or slip relative to each other about the axis of the respective trunnion 36 which forms a pivotal axis for a respective slat 28. The arms 54 extend away from the axes of the trunnions 36 and are provided with pivotal bearings 62 which are cast in openings 64 of a main link 66 which interconnects all of the arms 54 for operation of all of the slats 28 in unison.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings the bearing portions 62 are circular bearing .portions disposed in the openings 64 in the link 66. Arms 68 are connected to trunnions of the slats 26 and these arms 68 are similar in construction to the arms 54. Likewise, all of these arms are pivotally interconnected by a main link 70 which is similar in construction to the link 66 which interconnects the arms 54.

An actuator link 72 is pivoted to the main link 66 by means of a pin 74- and the opposite end of the lever 72 is provided with an opening therein which is pivoted on a shaft portion 78 of an actuator lever 80. Another actuator link 82 is pivoted to the main link 70 by means of a pin 84 and the opposite end of this link 82 is pivoted on the shaft 78 of the actuator lever 80 all as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The actuator lever 80 is provided with a handle portion 84 having a spherical portion 86 which is pivoted in a socket 88 in the flange 30 of the frame 20. The flange 40 is provided with a spherical socket portion 90 which coincides with the socket portion 88 and thereby retains the spherical portion 86 in the socket portion 88 so that the. actuator lever may have substantially universal movement with respect to the frame flange 30. This action permits the shaft 78 of the lever 80 to actuate the actuator links 72 and 82 for moving the main links 66 and 70, respectively, to thereby actuate the intersecting louver slats 28 and 26, respectively. I

It will be noted that the friction clutches formed by the trunnions of the ends of the slats and the arms connected to the links 66 and 70 provide for unison movement of the intersecting slats and also permit manual adjustment of individual slats about their pivotal axes without disturbing the angularly adjusted positions of the remaining slats. Further, it will be seen that after manual adjustment of individual slats has been accomplished that subsequent actuation of the lever 80 may cause movement of all the slats about their pivotal axes whereupon the previous manual adjustments of some of the slats are cancelled out and all of the slats are again under control of the lever 80. For example, some of the slats 28 may be manually adjusted about their pivotal axes to varying angular positions for directing air in various directions as desired. Then subsequent movement of the lever 80 in a direction to cause maximum movement of the link 66 will cause all of the slats 28 to assume a parallel relationship at their adjacent sides. Thus, all manual adjustments of the intersecting slats may be cancelled out by full movement of the lever 80 so that all of the slats are again in parallel relationship to each other at their opposite sides. It will also be understood that actuation of the lever 80 may be in a direction to cause concurrent pivotal adjustment of all of the intersecting slats 26 and 28 or actuation of the lever 80 may be accomplished selectively so that only the slats 28 or the slats 26 may be moved as a group. For example, if the lever 80 is moved in a direction so that its shaft 78 traverses a path parallel to the link 66 only the slats 28 will be pivotally adjusted about their axes while the slats 26 may remain substantially in a fixed position. On the other hand, if the lever 80 is moved in a direction so that its shaft 78 traverses a path longitudinally of the link 70 all of the slats 26 may be pivoted into angularly adjusted positions about their axes without disturbing the adjustment of the slats 28.

It will be noted that the manual actuating lever 80 is disposed near a corner of the frame remotely from the intersections of the slats 26 and 28 thereby permitting these slats to be of similar construction and this actuating device thereby simplifies the construction of the present air directing louver device and actuator mechanism. Further, it provides very simple means which is reliable in operation and very versatile in its ability to provide for a variety of adjustments of the intersecting slats.

As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings the flange 30 of the frame 20 may have integral plastic bosses 92 whereupon screws 94 are threaded and support a plastic cap 96 which forms a socket portion 98 opposed to the socket portion 88 for the purpose of holding the spherical portion 86 of the lever 80 in position. This construction as shown in FIG. 5 may be considered equivalent to the construction in FIG. 4 wherein the sheet metal spherical socket portion retains the spherical element 86 in the spherical socket 88 to permit universal movement of the lever 80 and its shaft portion 78.

In the modification as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings the air directing louver device is provided with a frame 100 which is similar to the frame 24 disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings. The frame 100 is provided with flange portions 102 and 103 having track portions 104 and 106, respectively, wherein channel shaped members 108 and 110 are slidably mounted.

Positioned in the channel shaped members 108 and 110 are clutch racks 112 and 114 which serve as slip clutch elements in frictional engagement with slip clutch discs 116 and 118 carried by trunions 120 and 122 of slats 124 and 126, respectively. The slats 124 and 126 are arabstract 13 ranged in intersecting relationship to each other at V- shaped notch portions similar to those in the intersecting slats disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

The clutch racks 112 and 114 are similar in construction and each of these racks is provided with opposed resilient portions which engage opposite sides of the slat actuating discs to form a slip clutch which is frictionally operated but slidable in the event individual louver slats are pivoted manually and independently of the clutch racks 112 and 114.

Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawing it will be seen that the clutch rack 114 is substantially channel shaped in cross section and is provided with inwardly curled opposed resilient portions 128 and 130 which are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the thickness of the disc shaped member 118 on each of the slats 126. Thus, the portions 128 and 130 are spread slightly apart by the dispositions of the disc 118 therebetween. These clutch discs are tapered in cross section from their axes to their peripheries thereby acting as wedges between the resilient portions 128 and 130. This arrangement provides for frictional engagement of each disc 118 at its opposite sides by the curled portions 128 and 130 of the clutch rack 114.

The discs 116 and 118 are held firmly in engagement with the inwardly curled portions of the clutch racks 112 and 114. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the bearing supports 132 are secured to the edge portions 134 of the frame 100 by means of projecting plastic rivet portions 136. It will be noted that the members 132 may be fixed to the frame in any other suitable manner as desired. These elements 132 are provided with hearing portions 13-8 which bear upon the trunnions 122 thereby forcing the notch apex portions of the slats 126 into firmly engaged relationship with the notch portions of the slats 124 whereby all of the discs 116 and 118 are firmly wedged between the resilient curled portions of the clutch racks 112 and 114. I

The clutch racks 112 and .114 are carried in the movable channel shaped members 108 and 110, respectively, whereby all the discs 116 and 118 maybe pivoted in unison about the axes of the trunions 120 and 122, respectively, forming pivotal bearings for the slats 124 and 126, respectively. It will be understood that the channel members .108 and 110 may be connected to a manually operable lever such as the lever 80 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings whereby this single lever is operable to actuate both of the clutch racks 112 and 114 by means of intermediate links such as the links 72 and 82 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings may be connected with the clutch racks 112 and 114, respectively, in order to actuate them by a common control lever. As shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the pin 142 extends through a slot 144 in the frame and is connected to the channel member 106. Thus, the pin 142 is permitted to slide relative to the frame so that it may actuate the channel member and the clutch rack 114 longitudinally of the track 106 in order to rotate the discs 118 and the slats 126 connected therewith. Likewise, the pin actuates the slats 124 by means of the channel member 108 and the clutch rack 112 engaging the discs 116 carried on the trunnions 120 about the axes of the slats 124.

In operation of the modified structure in FIGS. 6 and 7 any of the individual slats 124 or 126 may be manually adjusted independently of the clutch racks 112 and 114 by applying sufficient force on these slats to pivot them about their axes and cause slippage of either the discs 116 or .118 with relation to their respetcive clutch racks 112 and .114. Further, subsequent movement of these clutch racks 112 and 114 fill out a complete range of adjustment and returns all of the slots 124 and 126 to substantially parallel relationships with each other at their adjacent sides. This function is similar to that disclosed in connection with the structure as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

In the modification, as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings slats are pivotally mounted in a frame 152 and trunnions 154 of these slats are held in slots 156 of the frame by resilient Wires 158. On the ends of the trun nions 154 are slip clutch discs 160 having peripheries 161 which engage resilient strips 162 held in channel members 164 operable by manual slide actuators 166. The peripheries of the discs 160 are frictionally engaged with the resilient strip 162 and the peripheries of these discs 160 may slip or slide on the strip 162, however, the surface 166 is firmly engaged by the peripheries of the discs 160 due to pressure exerted by the resilient wire .158 on the trunnions 154 in a direction tending to hold the discs 160 on said surfaces 166. As shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the manual actuator 166 is provided with an extending portion 170 which is connected to the channel 164 and traverses a slot 172 in a flange 174 of the frame 152.

In operation, the modified structure as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the manual actuator member 166 is engaged and forced longitudinally of the slot 172 whereupon the discs 160 are rotated by frictional engagement with the surface 168 of the resilient strip 162. All of the slats are operated in unison in this manner in either direction so that they may be 'angularly adjusted relative to the frame. It will be noted that opposite or adjacent sides of the slats are parallel with each other and that individual slats may be adjusted independently of the actuator 166 and strip 162 by manual force. Subsequent movement of the actuator 166 may return all of the slats into a position wherein adjacent sides of the slats are parallel with each other. This function is similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with the structures disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings.

In the modification, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 1-1 of the drawings, a plurality of louver slats are provided with trunnions 182 pivoted in bearing slots 183 of a frame 185. Slip clutch discs 184 are fixed to the trunnions 182. Adjacent each clutch disc 184 is a friction plate engaged by a second clutch plate 188 having projecting bearing elements 189 to which a link is pivotally connected. The trunnions 182 project through openings in the clutch plates 186 and 188 and the trunnions are provided with head portions 187 which hold the clutch plates frictionally engaged. The link 190 pivotally connects bearings 189 of the plates 188 in connection with sever-a1 respective parallel louver slats whereby actuation of the link 190 pivots all of the slats in unison and whereby slippage of the plates 184 and 188 relative to the clutch plate 186 permits individual adjustment of the slats 180 as desired.

In the modified structure, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings, louver slats 200 are pivoted about trunnions 202 having spaced slip clutch elements 204 and 206 connected therewith. The spaced elements 204 and 206 are provided with respective inwardly directed nib portions 208 and 210 which are spaced closely together and disposed to engage opposite sides of a link 212 which is frictionally operable to pivot several slats 200 in unison in a similar manner to the function of the links 66 and 70 0f the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It will be noted that the nibs 208 and 210 are spaced a lesser distance than the thickness of the link 212 and thereby attain a frictional engagement with opposite sides of the link 212.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of first slats pivoted in said frame; a plurality of second slats pivoted in said frame and intersecting said first slats; a friction slip clutch operably connected to one end of each of said first and second slats; first means interconnecting allof the slip clutches of said first slats for pivoting the same in unison; a second means operably connected with all of the slip clutches of said second slats for operating them in unison; first and second links pivoted to said first and second means, respectively, said links extending from said first and second means and pivotally connected together on a common axis; and a movable control member connected to said links on said common axis.

2. In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of first slats pivoted in said frame; a plurality of second slats pivoted in said frame and intersecting said first slats; a friction slip clutch operably connected to one end of each of said first and second slats; first means interconnecting all of the slip clutches of said first slats for pivoting the same in unison; a second means operably connected with all of the slip clutches of said second slats for operating them in unison; first and second links pivoted to said first and second means, respectively, said links extending from said first and second means and pivotally connected together on a common axis; and a movable control member connected to said links on said common axis, said control member being a lever and having a ball and socket joint member intermediate its ends, said ball and socket joint member being supported on said frame, said control member having a handle on one end and having its opposite end connected to said links on said common axis.

3. 'In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of slats pivoted therein and having individual pivots; a friction slip clutch operably connected with each slat; and means separate from each slip clutch and operably interconnecting all of said slip clutches for pivotally actuating said slats about their individual pivots and in unison with each other.

4. In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of slats pivoted therein and having individual pivots; a friction slip clutch operably connected with each slat; each slip clutch including an annular element on an end of a slat and an arm having a cup shaped pocket frictionally cngaged with said annular element; and means separate from each slip clutch and operably interconnecting all of said slip clutches for pivotally actuating said slats about their individual pivots and in unison with each other; each of said slats individually pivotally adjustable by manual force which causes slippage of a respective clutch independently of said means.

5. In an air directing louver device and actuator there for the combination of: a frame; a plurality of slats pivotally mounted in said frame; a friction slip clutch operably connected to each of said slats; and link means separate from each slip clutch and connecting all of said friction slip clutches together for operation thereof in unison with each other whereby each slat may individually be adjusted relative to the other slats of said plurality by manual force which causes slippage of the friction clutch connected with each respective slat and whereby subsequent unison slippage operation of said friction clutches by said last mentioned means causes all of said slats to assume an equal angular adjustment about their axes and attain a parallel relation to each other at their adjacent sides.

6. In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of slats pivotally mounted therein; clutch bearing means carried by said slats at the ends thereof and concentric with the pivotal axes of said slats; slip clutch arms frictionally engaged with said slip clutch bearing means and forming friction slip clutch elements relative to said slip clutch bearing means; and link means interconnecting said arms at locations spaced from the axes of said slats whereby movement of said link means pivots all of said arms and thereby actuatcs all of said slats in unison about their pivotal axes.

7. In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of slats pivoted therein; clutch plates carried by said slats at adjacent ends thereof, said clutch plates being concentric with the axes of said slats and having slip clutch surfaces normal thereto; a friction disk engaging each of said plates; a second plate cooperating with each friction disk at the opposite side thereof from the first mentioned plate; and link means pivotally connected with each of the second plates at a location spaced from the axes of the respective slats whereby all of said slats may be pivoted in unison with a single movement of said link means.

8. 'In an air directing louver device and actuator therefor the combination of: a frame; a plurality of slats pivotally mounted therein on axes substantially parallel with each other; a friction slip clutch member connected with each of said slats at adjacent ends thereof; and a clutch rack frictionally engageable with all of the clutch members on said slats for pivotally actuating said slats in unison.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,435 Jenkins Feb. 5, 1924 2,153,359 Anderson et al. Apr. 4, 1939 2,236,865 Bailey et a1 Apr. 1, 1941 2,293,065 Kiczales Aug. 18, 1942 2,310,086 Howard Feb. 2, 1943 2,621,578 Labus Dec. 16, 1952 2,630,053 Kennedy Mar. 3, 1953 2,729,158 Wilfert Ian. 3, 1959 

